The Ennis News

Lions knock off another contender in Red Oak

Stunned as if a good boxer had just been caught with a startling left hook and a stultifying right, Red Oak a local basketball power for years, was stunned by Ennis, 61-56, on Friday, Jan. 8.

The left was delivered throughout the match by senior southpaw Laylon Spencer, who poured in a game-high 26 points, while fearless juniors Devion Beasley and Dee Johnson made plays all night as the Lions never trailed once in four quarters. A key figure rose to the forefront in senior forward Jarveon Williams. His presence in the lane was huge, as was his point production.

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Avalon made playoffs, many earn All-District

It wasn’t the encore they preferred, though following an 11-1 season, the best-ever for Class 1A Avalon, the team overcame a miserable start to somehow qualify for the playoffs. It didn’t last long, but it did point the Eagles toward an optimistic future.

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HPU football hires Bachtel as HC

Jason Bachtel, 40, was hired on Jan. 7 as the new head coach at NCAA Division III Howard Payne University. A 2003 alumnus at HPU, he was introduced at a press conference in Brownwood (170 miles SW of Ennis) the following day.

“We believe Coach Bachtel (BACK-tel) embodies the perfect fit at HPU to lead the football program,” said Athletic Director Hunter Sims. “He is a proven winner. We are ecstatic about the future of the Yellow Jacket football program as we welcome him back to HPU.”

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Let's Get Warm Giveaway

Anyone in need of daily essentials or who are experiencing homelessness of any kind are invited to the Ellis County Homeless Coalition’s Let’s Get Warm Giveaway. The free event will be held on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at First Baptist Church Waxahachie, 450 E. U.S. 287.

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Free Health and Wellness Community Classes

The North Central Texas Area Agency on Aging is offering free self-management health education workshops for older adults with chronic disease, diabetes, or chronic pain. These At-Home Workshops were developed through Stanford University and provide tools and information about making healthy food choices, increasing physical activity, managing symptoms and pain, goal setting and much more. Workshops also provide opportunity to connect to others from the safety of their homes.

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Mary Helen Gentry cookbook rereleased

The second edition of a cookbook by Mary Helen Gentry, longtime writer and social columnist for the Ennis News, has recently been published. The first edition was released in 2002.

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Martha Newsome

Martha Newsome, 76, passed away on Jan. 14, 2021.

Visitation was held on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at J.E. Keever Mortuary, 408 N. Dallas St., Ennis.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, at 2 p.m., also at J.E. Keever Mortuary.

Graveside service was held on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, at 2 p.m., at Mt. Vernon, TX City Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of J.E. Keever Mortuary.

www.jekeevermortuary.com

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Barbara Jean Raney

Barbara Jean Raney, age 68 passed away on January 8, 2021. She was born in Ennis on March 2, 1952, to Jesse James and Billye (Cheek) McCarty. She attended Ennis High School until graduation. On March 20, 1970, she married Winston and made a life in Garrett, Texas for 43 years. Barbara worked as a GI Tech at Bluebonnet Surgery Pavilion and Baylor Hospital Surgery Center in Waxahachie. Barbara also worked for Baylor Hospital for 35 years. She enjoyed life and loved being with her grandkids and great grandkids. She also loved growing her hydrangeas; she was so proud of those.